Displaced Superstorm Sandy victims in New Jersey are more stressed than those who have returned to repaired homes, but both groups continue to suffer and the mental anguish could increase, according to a new Monmouth University poll.

Psychological stress remains with residents who were displaced following the October 2012, storm, the survey said.

According to the survey released Thursday, 12 percent of New Jerseyans showed either serious or mild to moderate distress. But the state’s Sandy victims were nearly four times as likely — 47 percent — as typical New Jersey resident to suffer at least mild psychological distress.

This finding has been seen before in victims of large-scale disasters, said Christine Hatchard, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Clinical Psychology Research Center at Monmouth University.

“However, recent research on Hurricane Katrina victims found that mental distress can actually increase over time, and that economically disadvantaged victims still were experiencing significant mental health problems five years after the hurricane,” Hatchard said.

Among Sandy victims who have not returned to their pre-storm homes, 34 percent show signs of serious distress and 29 percent reported mild to moderate distress.

The survey found just 37 percent had no signs of distress.

Those still living in a hotel or trailer are 77 percent most likely to exhibit varying degrees of mental health concerns, including nearly half who report serious distress.

Those who are displaced are nearly twice as likely as those who are living in their pre-Sandy homes to self-report symptoms of psychological distress.

In the two counties hit hardest by the storm, Sandy victims in Monmouth County are more stressed than those in Ocean County, the survey showed.

Dealing with storm stress can easily overwhelm people who “feel helpless and hopeless,” Hatchard said.

Not addressing the emotional problems from the storm, she said, “may lead to the development of disorders such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress.”